Nut-cracking machine



R. S. COWAN.

NUT )RACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2I

"92" Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

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H. S. COWAN. NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAII.2I, I92I.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

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Bronnen s. Cowan, or sr. tenis,` rfrrssonnr, assrolvot or cnn-transen Towne, an., or sr. nonrs', rrrssotrnr.v

GEORGE Nn'rfcnnonine raaonrnn.

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ySpecification of Letters Patent. Patented De@ 27 1921,

application inea March 21, 192i. Serenna 453,979.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, RICHARD S. Cowan, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. louis5 l/iissouri, have invented a certain new and useful lmprovement in Nut-Cracking Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings7 jiorming part of this specification.

his invention relates to nut cracking machines, and the object of the invention is to provide machine which will efficiently crack the shells ot nuts without crushing the kernels thereof, and to provide a machine of the class described which is of strong and durable construction and simple in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nut cracking machin@ having a compensating mechanism which automatically adjusts itself to the'various sizes of the nuts and which releases one of the cracking jaws immediately after the shell of the nut is cracked, thereby preventing the crushing or mashing of the kernel. f

Still another object is to provide improved mechanism for delivering the nuts singly from the hopper' between the cracking jaws.

TWith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying draw-r ings, in which- Figure '1 is a side elevation of my in proved nut cracking machine and showing the cracking jaws at the beginning of the cracking operation.

Fig. 2 is a :fragmentary side elevationV showing the cracking jaws at the completion of the cracking operation.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. a is a vertical cross section .on the line 1 -d of Fig. 3. i

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section on line 5-'-5 of Fig. 4.

fteferring by reference numerals to the ccompanying drawings, 10 designadtesr a vtable on which are slidably mounted blocks 11 and 12 between suitable guideways 10a. Block 11 is connected at its outer end by a connecting link 13 to a crank shaft 1a Journaled in the rear end of said table. The forward end of table 10 is provided with a stationary post-15 to the upper end of which is pivotally connected the outer end of a link 16, the -opposite end" of which has pivotal 'connection with one end of link 17 which has its other end pivotally mounted in the outer end of Vblock 12. Links 16 and'17 constitute stationary support 15. rhis toggle connection is adapted to hold block 12 stationary during the cracking operation and permits the retractive or outward movement of said clock when said toggle connection is broken ion a ing on er ation.

' position, is located adjacent tothe opposite end of said trough. Communicating with trough 20 is the lower endlof a downwardly inclined chute 2l and its upperend rests in the discharge opening 22 formedjin one of the side walls of hopper 23. Operating in the l.hopper is a `feed wheel 24 which is fixed to one end ofa transverse shaft 25, the latter being journaled in suitable` bearings carriedV by the under side of table 10. The outer end of shaft 25 is provided with a ratchet wheel 26 which is adapted to be intermittently operated by a pawl 27 pivotally carried by one end of a lever 28 which is fulcrumed to table 10 at 29 and has its outer'end bearing against the cam or eccentric 30 fixed to one end ot crank shaft 14E. l 'y f Shaftl 14 is driven in any suitable manner and preferably by 1a beltV 31 and pulley 32. The periphery of wheel 24: is provided with Aa toggle connection between block 12 and which disabling of the toggle connecf takes place immediatelyafter the crack-l pockets 2da,` the bottom ory inner walls of y i which are Y.inclined toward the discharging side of hopper 23 so that vwhenwheel 24 is rotated in the direction indicated lbythe arrow, nuts contained in the hopper will enter said pockets and will be carried singly by each pocket upwardly* .VVhen each pocket comes in alinement with the discharge opening 22, the 'nut contained therein will drop from the pocket through the opening 22 into the chute 21 and then into the receiving trough 20.

Cracking jaw 18 is slidably mounted 1n block 11 and an expansion spring 33 seated in a recess in said pocket bears against that end of cracking jaw 18 which is mounted in block 11. Spring V33 tends to hold jaw 18 in its outward position and a screw 34 seated in block 11 engages a groove or shoulder on the upper face of said jaw and prevents the displacement of jaw 18 from its poy sition in block 11.

Projecting outwardly from one side 0f block 11 is a lateral lug 35 in which is adj ustably'ixedone end or a longitudinally disposed rod 36. rThe opposite end of this rod has a sliding bearing in a lateral lug 37 projecting outwardly from block 12 and is provided with an adjustable head 36a. A sleeve 38 is adjustably carried by rod 36 and positioned on said rod between sleeve 38 and lug 37 is a coil spring 39. Wvhen block 11 and jaw 18 are moved inwardly toward the jaw 19 by the rotation of crank shaft 14, rod 36 iiXed to lugv35 slides through lug or bearing 37 and spring 39 is compressed between sleeve 38 which is carried by sliding rod 36 and lug 37 carried by block 12.

When the toggle connection 16 and 17 between block 12 and stationary post 15 is broken, the energy stored in the compressed spring 39 forces block 12 and jaw 19 outwardlyand away from jaw 18. Upon the return or rearward movement of block 11 and jaw 18, adjustable head 36L will engage lug 37 on block 12 and return block 12 and jaw 19 to their normal or cracking position and at the same time restore the toggle connection 16 and 17.

A lateral lug 40 projects outwardly from the inner or hopper side oi' block 11. Operating Athrough said lug and having a bearing therein is a tripping rod 41 which is arranged parallel with jaws 18 and 19. The front or tripping end of this rod has a slidingbearing in a post 42 projecting upwardly from table 10. A tripping member 43 is pivotally supported on table 10 and is provided at one end-with an upwardly projecting arm 43a vwhich operates through a slot 10b in table 10 and is arranged in the path of movement of the forward end ot rod 41. A horizontally disposed arm 43h is fixed at the other end of pivotal member 43 and operates through longitudinal slot 10C in table 10. This horizonA tal arm 43b lies immediately below the lower end of pin or projection 17 a depending downwardly from link 17.

i Rod 41 is normally held retracted and out of operative engagement with arm 43aM by 'means of an expansive spring 44 positioned on said rod and having one end resting against post 42 and its opposite end bearing against sleeve 45 adjustably carried on rod 1 41. he rearward movement of rod 41 is controlled by a screw 46 adjustably seated in bracket .47 projecting upwardly Jfrom table 10. Slidablymounted in lug 40 is a pin 48, the outer end of which is adapted to friction-- ally engage rod 41. The inner end 48a projects inwardly into block 11 and lies in the path of movement of a cam portion 18a arranged on the rear end of jaw 18.

ln the operation of my improved machine and assuming the parts to be in the position shown in F ig. 3, the forward movement of the reciprocatory jaw 18 will grip a nut deposited in the receiving trough 2O between jaws 18 and 19. The continued forward movement ot block 11 causes the end 48"3L yof pin 48 to ride upon the cam portion 18a orn jaw 18 which jaw has been retarded in its forward movement by the nut positioned between jaws 18 and 19. Cam portion 18a forces pin 48 outwardly against rod 41, thereby gripping saidrod and causing it to move forwardly with block 11. As soon as the cam portion 18a forces pin 48 against rod 41, the retrograde movement of jaw 18 is stopped and the shell of the nut is cracked between the reciprocatoryjaw 18 and the stationar jaw 19. J ust about the time the shell of the nut is cracked between the jaws or immedi ately thereafter7 the forward end of rod 41 strikes the upwardly projecting arm 43a, of rocking member v43, and causing horizontal arm V43b to strike pin 17a carried by link 17 and moving the pivotal connection between links 16 and 17 upwardly out of alinement with the pivotal yconnections or" link 16 and stationary post 15,'and `link 17 and block 12, thereby destroying the ltoggle connection. As soon as the toggle connection is broken, energy stored in the compressed spring 39 causes block 12 and jaw 19 to move outwardly and away from aw 18. J aw V18 continues its forward movement for a short Iperiod of time,'after jaw 19 is retracted and discharges the cracked nut from the trough 20 onto a suitable endless conveyer located below said receiving trough.

When jaw 19 is released by having its tog gle support broken, the end thrust on aw 18 is removed7 permitting spring 33 to move jaw 18 outwardly, thereby relieving pressure on pin 48 and releasing rod'41 from engagement with block 11.

rlhe spring 33 is of suihcient size to normally hold the reciprocating jaw 18 in its outer position so that the nut dropped into the receiving trough 2O will be firmly gripped between j aws18 and 19 before spring 33 will yield and permit a slight forward' movement of block 11'while the jaw 18 is 'stationary and compresses spring This dilterential Yjusts itself to the nuts oi var rod fil. Rod il is noiv engaged by pin 4:8 and is carried forwardly by block l1 to operate tripping member a3. is soon as pin 48 is forced against rod eil, the yielding movement or jaw 18 is stopped and said 'is carried forwardly to iirst complete the cracking operation and then eject the cracked nut trom the receiving trough 20. rllhe position oi rod il with respect to arm i: ay be adjusted by turning screv7 4.6 which acts as a stop tor rodil.

T he toggle mechanism comprising links 1G and 17 provides a support which is rigid dui'- ing the cracking operations and receives the end thrust of jaw 19 and block l2 and which support can be quickly operated :it-the end or the cracking operation to prevent crushing of the nuts and permit the eiection thereot into a suitable receptable or on an endless conveyor. By mounting jaiv i8 yieldingly Vin block ll and utilizing this ,yielding movement to operate the tripping mechanismr to release jaw 19, the device automatically adious sizes and dimensions, as the jaiv 18 i il operate pin 4S only when resistance is offered to its torivard movement by the interposition ot a nut between jaws l2 and i8.

A nut cracking machine ot my improved construction has a Wide range of adjustments, is effective in `pericorming its intended said reciprocatingD atv having a yielding lon-V *2n gitudinal movement independently ot said releasable jaw, and means 'tor releasin releasable jaw, said means bein?v adapted to become operative by the yielding movement of said reciprocating avv.

2. In a nut cracking machine, a-reciprocating member, a reciprocating jaiv yieldingly mounted therein, a releas( ile apted to cooperate with the tiret mentioned liaiv, and means 'for'releasing said releasable jaiv, said means being adapted to become operative by the yielding movement of said recii rocatin-gj` jaw. Y

3. ln a nut cracking machine, a reciprocating member, a reciprocating cracking yieldingly mounted therein, r able cracking jaw adapted to cooperate i said reciprocating jaw, means .tor releasin said releasable aw and adapted to become operative by the yielding movement of said recip` rocating j avv, and means for moving said releasable jaw in a retracted position.`

il. ln a nut cracking machine, a reciprocating member, a reciprocating cracking jaw Ayieldingly mounted therein, a releasable Vcracking jaw adapted to coperate with said reciprocating` gait/,means Jor releasing said releasable jaw and adapted to become operativeby the yielding movement ot said reciprocating jaw, means for moving said releasable jaw in a retracted position, and means operable by reciprocating member for restoring said releasable jaw to its normal or operative position;

5, lin a nut crackingmachin'e, a reciprocating block, a yielding cracking jaW mounted in said block, a releasable cracking jaw opposing said reciprocating jaw and having toggle connection With a stationary portion of said machine, and means controlled by said yielding jaw and adaptedto operate said toggle connection to release the, releasable jaiv.y ,Y 1 6. lna nut cracking machine, a reciprocating-member, a reciprocating jaw mounted in saidmember and having ditterentialmovement with respect thereto, a releasable cracking javv adapted to cooperate with said reciprocating jaw, a toggle mechanism for holding said releasable jaw stationary, tripping means tor breaking said toggle, and means 'for operating said tripping means and adapted to be operatively connected to the reciprocating member by the differential movement between said reciprocating member and said reciprocating p 7. ln a nut cracking machine, a reciprocating member, a reciprocating jaw yieldingly mounted in said member, a movable jaw cooperating With said reciprocating jaw, toggle means for opposing the movement of said movable gaiv, tripping means for breaking said toggle, and'means operated by the .x

yielding movement of the reciprocating jaw for operatively connecting said, tripping means to the reciprocating member.

8. ln a nut cracking machineareciprocat ing member, a reciprocating jaw yieldingly mounted in said member, a movable jaw opposing said reciprocating javv, toggle means "for holding said movable jaw stationary,

tripping means tor rendering inoperative said toggle means, interengaging means between said reciprocating member and said tripping means, said interengaging means being operable by the yielding movement of the cracking ja-vv, and means for restoring said toggle means to operative position.

9. ln a nutY cracking machine, a stationary nut receiving trough, a reciprocating member, a reciprocating jaw yieldingly mounted in said member and adapted to traverse said receiving trough, an anvil cooperating With said reciprocating jaw and normally located ifiorsse adjacent to one end o said trough, toggle lmeans for normally holding said anvil stationary and adapted to move it to a retracted position, a rocking member for disabling said toggle means, and means Jfor operating said rocking member and adapted to be operatively connected to said reciprocating member by the yielding movement of the reciprocating jaw.

10. 1n a nut cracking machine, a reciprocating member, a reciprocating jaw yieldingly mounted in said member, a movable jaw opposing said reciprocating javv, toggle means adapted to maintain said movable javv stationary during the cracking operation, means for disabling said toggle means, a spring for moving said movablejaw in a retracted position, and lmeans carried by said reciprocating member and operable by the yielding movement of said reciprocating jaw for operatively locking said reciprocating member to said disabling means.

1 1. In a nut cracking machine, a stationary receiving trough, a reciprocating jaw traversing said trough, a releas'able javv cooperating vvith said reciprocating avv, means adapted to be `actuated by said recipthe discharge opening into the receiving A trough.

12.1n a nut cracking machine, a stationary receiving trough, a reciprocating jaw traversing said trough, a releasable avv cooperating With said reciprocating jaw, means adapted to be actuated by said reciprocating jaw for releasing said releasable jaw, a hopper having a discharge opening .communicating with said receiving trough, and a feed Wheel rotatively mounted in. said hopper and provided With circumferentially disposed pockets having lateral openings Which are adapted to coincide With the discharge opening in the hopper.

1n testimony whereof 1 hereunto aliiX my signature this 11th day of March, 1921.

RlCHARD S. COVVAN. 

